The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-27
M'GARhAHAN's CLAIM.
Thirty Years and Fortune in Trying
to Establish it.


Washington Letter Nep York Graphic.
While passing along one of the Senate
corridors l ran across the most re-
markable of the great army Of claimants at
the door of Congress, Billy McGarrahan.
For thirty years McGarrahar has been
fighting for his right, or alleged right, to
the Panoche Grande quicksilver property
in California, which has been during that
period and still is, held by the New .Idria
Company. He tells me he is prepared to
die on the spot if his claim is not soon al
lowed by Congress Senator VOORHEES, is
sOou to re-introduce his claim in the Senate,
and some one not yet decided upon in the
House. McGarrahan says the mine has
become considerably reduced in value In
former years it has been worth GEAR half
million year, but now, he says, it is not
worth over 100000 total value. This
great reduction in value is due TO the fall
in the price of quick liver,
and to diminished consumption.
Quicksilver is used principally in the
processes of silver smelling. Ever hopeful,
the plucky Irishman says he will be sure to
get his rights this time. Three times he
mas passed his. bill through the House, but
he has always failed in the Senate He de-
lights TO recount the names of the eminent
years have been his friends and supporters.
Among those are Morton, Hendricks, Beck,
Garrett, Davis, Pitt, FeSsenden, Bingham,
Matt Carpenter, Montgomery Blair, Logan,
Tom Ewing, James o. Brodhead, Luke p.
Poland, Thad Stevens, james +. Wilson,
Garland, George w. McCrary. Pat Collins
and Judge Niblack. Abraham Lincoln was
the greatest man out of Congress who
thought his claim good. But there has
OF itxr M,,fA h..
and his claim. His opponents were power
full and had money. They cast the sus-
picion of iobbery around the claim,
and of this, OF at least of its exposure, public
men are afraid. McGarrahan told me that
the night before Hayes was inaugurated the
slate of the Cabinet was changed at the in
stance OF Aaron A. Sargent. then Senator
from California, and two or three other in
fuential friends of the New Idria Company.
He said that McCrary, of Iowa. good
lawyer and the principal Rep biicau advo-
cate of the Electoral Comml sion bill iu the
House which gave Hayes the Presidency,
was to have taken the Attorney General
ship, and Gen. Charles Devens, of Massa-
chusettS, Il gentleman who imagined him
self great military man, the portfolio of
War. In personal appearance McGarrahan
is about the same as when saw hin hrst
Twelve years ago Although 50, he looks no
more than 10. He is stout AID chunky with
pleasant, smooth shaven face, blue eyes,
short hair, and smile that III a woman
would be called very sweet. lie always
dresses well III black, but tells mj he is be-
ginning to get hard up. He made a good
deal of money in San Francisco dealing in
liquors and groceries at wholesale during
the gold excitement period, and from his ac-
cumulation be is said to have been living
ever since. When he succeeds with his
claim he is going to have a book written.
He says 1t i, a romantic story, and one th It,
with the disclosures he woIld make, wou
astonish the country. But he must first
win his long fight. He says he's going to do
it--that he hasn't spent his fortune and
thirty years of his life in Washington for
nothing.